It seems like only yesterday that Connect-Bridgeport was reporting on the city’s 2015 Light Up Night festivities and other holiday happenings. Yet here we are already – with 2016 events behind us and launching a brand new year.

 

Much has happened in our little city over the past 12 months. We’ve seen new businesses spring up along our Main Street corridor, Meadowbrook Mall and other locations.

 

Among the most celebrated was the July opening of Shop ‘n Save adjacent to Oliverio’s Ristorante. Shortly thereafter, the Dollar Tree moved into the plaza, leaving its longtime Meadowbrook Mall location.

 

Blooms Florist owner Cara Ewald sold her business to a Morgantown florist with like style and she opened a screen print business on State Street, specializing in T-shirts, mugs and other personalized items.

 

The building which housed her floral business – formerly Petroleum Development and way back in the day, Bridgeport Baptist Church - became the new home of the Starving Artist gallery and sanctuary – a mini mall of unique gift ideas crafted by locals.

 

Lisa and Andy Lang did some major renovations on their Main Street building located just across the street; the facility which used to house Mustard Seed Primitives. In the lower level of that building, Lisa is opening the All About You embroidery shop.

 

Dairy Queen got a cool new LED sign and a new look, still serving up our favorite frozen and Brazier-style treats. Businesses launching major renovation projects included Main Street Fitness and The Vintage Shoppe and brand new to Main Street were a number of massage/spa businesses, including the unique Sprout Holistic Spa in the Chandler Building.

 

The latest Main Street business is Mike Kelley's Appliance Repair. The 1994 BHS alum is operating his business out of the former Getty Station (more recently The Looking Glass, Mr. Stop Auto) at the corner of West Main and Virginia Ave.

 

To accommodate the growing downtown, the city built a new parking lot behind Main which is accessible from Center Street. City Council also voted to financially support a $25 million expansion project of Bombardier Aerospace; a project expected to bring 200 new jobs.

 

North Central West Virginia Airport continued to grow, as well, adding direct flight service to Charlotte and Baltimore through new carrier, Via Air. Direct flights to Orlando and Myrtle Beach also continued. Despite that growth, we saw yet another airport restaurant close up shop. Parker’s on the Runway, in operation at NCWV Airport for about two years, left the terminal building to pursue a new Clarksburg location.

 

At Meadowbrook Mall, we saw retailers like Sears and Aeropostale close, as did Gordon Jewelers and West. Coming on board at the local mall was O Chi Reflexology, Maurices, Four Horsemen Comics and Gaming, Cricket Wireless - and in the food court, Sophia’s Home Cooking. This year, the mall welcomed celebrities Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., Brandan Robinson, Peyton List and Jeremy Ambler, who helped celebrate special occasions. The latter led the third annual Zombie Walk, which has become a Halloween staple event.

 

Area development continues. Owned by BHS Alum Mark Gricewich, R.G. Honda is relocating from Nutter Fort to just off Meadowbrook Road (by the WV Division of Highways/State Police Detachment) and in early-2016, Dan Cava opened Dan’s Car World across Johnson Avenue from Sheetz – the former spot of the strip mall which was destroyed by fire in 2013.

 

It was another big year for Bridgeport sports. The city hosted the 12-year-old Little League state tournament. Bridgeport’s team captured the state championship and advanced to the Southeastern regional championship in Warren Robbins, Ga., winding up the tourney in third place. Community members watched with pride as our little athletes played live on ESPN.

 

Two new baseball fields were added at Bridgeport Recreation Complex; the facility located just off Route 131 which for two years has been pegged one of the state’s most premier facilities. City residents are pretty pumped about a forthcoming indoor recreation complex to be located in the same area, providing a home for swimming, indoor track and a number of other athletics and recreational options.

 

Also in the works is a brand new Visitors’ Center which is being built at Charles Pointe where the Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Bureau and Connect-Bridgeport will have offices. Both the Charles Pointe and White Oaks areas continue to develop, the latter implementing a new restaurant in 2016: Cody’s, owned and operated by BHS alum Cody Thrasher.

 

A second entrance to White Oaks has been established from Saltwell; the entire Saltwell Exit area of I-79 booming with new construction and forthcoming business. 

 

In 2016, Bridgeport’s first public preschool class graduated from BHS. The “Brunch Bill”’ was implemented – meaning restaurants and conference facilities can sell alcohol after 10 a.m. Sundays. The Associated Businesses of Bridgeport hosted the annual scarecrow display and Light Up Night, law enforcement and emergency services hosted National Night Out at Bridgeport Pool and the city again hosted the popular Kids’ Safety Day, Shred-It, Drug Take-Back and city-wide yard sale events.

 

After years of vision and research, the city established a Veterans Memorial and dedicated it May 26 in true military style; many current and former members of our U.S. Military witnessing the local history. Then in December, well over 1,000 wreaths were placed on the grave sites of U.S. servicemen and women laid to rest at Bridgeport Cemetery as part of the national Wreaths Across America program and a passion project of former resident Christa Parker.

The community embraced its newest superhero, little Jack Rollins, who was battling neuroblastoma. Events, cards, letters, gifts, fundraisers and most importantly, prayer, was poured out to him and his family and when he lost his battle, residents united once again, to mourn the loss which was deeply felt by all.

 

Bridgeport Fire and Emergency Services responded to 1,688 calls – 1,208 which were fire-related, including a tragic Crestview Apartment Complex fire which claimed a life. The city brought on new law enforcement/emergency services personnel, including Police Officer Jeffrey Bartlett and firefighters Mark Jefferies and Matthew Bartlett. The city was also asked to help staff the DEA’s new Tactical Diversion Squad which will work out of Clarksburg to target the area’s prescription drug epidemic. City law enforcement and the Greater Harrison County Drug Task Force, headed up by Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker, has been quite busy cracking down on the prescription drug and heroin epidemic; making several busts and subsequent arrests. In a proactive effort, Drug Clubs of America has now been established at BHS. 

 

City businessman and property developer Woody Thrasher was named Secretary of Commerce under the upcoming governorship of Jim Justice and radio personality/former Harrison County Board of Education member Mike Queen was named communications director, deputy chief of staff for Secretary of State-Elect Mac Warner. His son Ben, well-known photographer, was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates. Bridgeport resident and BHS alum Robert Matheny fulfilled a dream he has nurtured his entire life when he was elected Sheriff of Harrison County. He was just sworn into that position Dec. 29. Another BHS alum and longtime area attorney Pete Conley was sworn in the week before as Harrison County Family Court Judge. City resident and BHS alum Curtis Fleming continued to host his worldwide-aired TV show the Fly Rod Chronicles and captured a very special episode this year highlighting the resilience of the Mountain State following the June flooding in southern West Virginia. Many from Bridgeport helped aid flood victims in big ways – from collecting needed items to driving south and working on the front lines in an effort to restore.Pictured here are members of Bridgeport Fire Department who performed search, rescue and recovery duties in Rainelle. 

 

The city lost a long line of businessmen and women, U.S. veterans, church and community leaders and members of our legal, education and medical community. That list includes, but isn’t limited to, George Davis, Betty Compton, Dr. Carl Liebig, Robert Lee Orr, Jack Carder, Mary Strosnider, Maria Reppert, Dr. Minter Chapman, Linda Kaufman, John and Suzanne Ebert, Walter Barth, Ron Hanlan, Rev. Richard McDonald, Robert Kittle, Ronald Sprouse, Floyd Fullen, Joan Viglianco, Bonny Hall, Richard Martin, Jason Jones, Rod Jennings, Dellot Shields, Tom Davis, Thelma Nutter, John Harvey Ash and Adith Dillmore – who wrote the BHS Alma Mater.

The BHS baseball team picked up its third consecutive Class AA state title. Also capturing state championships were the boys’ cross country team, the girl's track team, the boys’ tennis team and player Ben Smith. The girls’ tennis team earned the runner-up spot as did the Lady Indians Volleyball Team. The boys’ track team and girls’ cross country team wound up in third place. Led strongly by junior Mason Williams, the golf team placed fifth at states.

 

The basketball team came close to playing for the state championship, but was defeated 48-47 by Fairmont Senior in the semis. A similar heart-breaking loss happened when the Indian football team – which was hoping to bring home their fourth consecutive state win – lost to Fairmont Senior 22-21 in double overtime in the semis, played on the Indians’ home field. That field, by the way, was freshly returfed this year, thanks, in part, to a generous community, quality program and those who oversee it. 

 

And don't forget Winter Storm Jonas which dumped about 20 inches of snow on our city last calendar year. 

 

I’m sure I’ve forgotten things! Feel free to comment on this story to add to this summary.

 

Here we go 2017!